In an unusual display of hospitality, the city will welcome protesters at the Republican National Convention with an enticing array of hotel, restaurant and theater discounts, Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday.

The “Welcome Peaceful Political Activists” promotion is designed to cash in on an estimated 200,000 demonstrators expected to descend on the city in two weeks to voice their opposition to President Bush.

“If we get a large number of people here who want to be political activists and express themselves, no reason we shouldn’t welcome them just in the same way as we are welcoming the delegates and the press,” Bloomberg said at a press conference in the Midtown headquarters of NYC & Co., the convention and visitors’ bureau.

“We want to make sure protesters feel welcome here and that they take advantage of all New York City has to offer . . . It’s no fun to protest on an empty stomach.”

Lenny Alcivar, a GOP convention spokesman, applauded the unique promotion – which the mayor said was the first of its kind in the nation.

“I think it’s terrific if the city wants to reward peaceful protesters practicing their First Amendment rights,” said Alcivar.

The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, Marty Connors, also backed Bloomberg.

“Only in New York could you come up with such a great marketing idea,” said Connors, a convention delegate. “I think you’ve got a hell of a mayor.”

But some top Republicans were scratching their heads.

“I don’t think these people are going to be slapping down their American Express cards,” said James Oddo, the City Council Republican leader. “Some of them don’t believe in capitalism.”

A Republican operative in Washington was flabbergasted.

“If Mayor Bloomberg thinks it’s good politics to incentivize protestors to come to New York, that’s his call. But if Mayor Bloomberg thinks that, maybe New York City politics is crazier than people thought,” said the operative.

While accommodating the “peaceful protestors,” Bloomberg still refused to grant a permit for a massive protest rally in Central Park.

Four women from “Code Pink: Women for Peace” were arrested yesterday when they tried to hang a protest banner outside the Sheraton New York, across the street from Bloomberg’s event.

Protest leaders predicted the discounts wouldn’t be a big draw.

“Most of us can’t even afford to stay at a hotel,” said AiMara Lin of the group Not in Our Name.

The discounts – including certain hotels, restaurants, museums, retail stores and more – are available to anyone who picks up a button at NYC & Co. or visits its Web site, nycvisit.com.

Bloomberg conceded there was no way to distinguish anarchists from peaceful activists.

“They would still get the discount, even if they’re an anarchist,” said the mayor.

Deborah Orin and Philip Messing contributed to this story.

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‘Rally’ good deals

Some of the promotional offers for protesters to the Republican National Convention (coupon available at http://www.nycvisit.com):